A North Carolina family is grappling with shock and conflicting emotions after a woman who vanished more than two decades ago was found alive.

Michele Hundley Smith was 38 years old when she disappeared in December 2001 after leaving her home to go Christmas shopping at a K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia.

She never returned and was reported missing later that month. At the time, she was a mother of three. For 24 years, her whereabouts remained unknown.

On Feb. 20, investigators with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Smith, now 62, at an undisclosed location in North Carolina. Authorities said they received new information that led them to her. Officials confirmed she is alive and in good health, adding that, at her request, her current location will not be made public.

The discovery has brought relief — but also complicated feelings — for her family. Smith’s daughter, Amanda, who was 14 when her mother vanished, shared an emotional message on social media after learning the news. She described herself as overwhelmed by a flood of reactions.

“I am ecstatic, I am angry, I am heartbroken,” Amanda wrote, explaining that she feels pulled in different directions. She said she does not yet know whether she will pursue a renewed relationship with her mother. While part of her wants reconciliation, she also acknowledges the deep pain caused by her mother’s absence.

Amanda reflected on the difficulty of forgiveness, saying she may eventually be able to move forward — or she may find the hurt too significant to fully overcome.

She emphasized that her mother is human and that people make mistakes, but admitted that her head and heart are not yet in agreement. She also asked the public to show compassion and avoid speculation about what happened.

Other relatives expressed a mixture of relief and unanswered questions. Smith’s cousin, Barbara Byrd, told local media she was stunned and wanted to celebrate the fact that Smith is alive. At the same time, she wonders what circumstances led to her disappearance and what compelled her to leave.

Byrd said she respects Smith’s wish not to be contacted and is not focused on anger, but rather on the fact that her family member survived.

Law enforcement officials have offered limited details about the circumstances surrounding Smith’s decision to leave. Sheriff Sam Page said there were no indications of foul play at the time of her disappearance.

According to Smith, she left because of ongoing domestic problems, though she did not provide further explanation. Authorities noted there were no formal domestic violence reports filed before she went missing.

With Smith located, the missing persons aspect of the case is now closed. However, investigators have consulted with the district attorney’s office to determine whether any legal issues remain.

One potential consideration is whether charges related to abandonment could apply, though no decisions have been made.

For more than two decades, Smith’s disappearance left her family with uncertainty and grief. Now, the confirmation that she is alive has replaced one mystery with another. While officials continue reviewing the case, her loved ones are left navigating a complex emotional landscape — balancing relief, confusion and lingering questions about the years that were lost.